Slicing machine



0. D. TAYLOR Dec. 3, 1935.

SLICING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1934 2 Shefcs-Sheet 1 6 Z 44 0 1 J fi wN W M W 9 w 7 m M n 0 n N l L w J Y B 0 "461 by: m 4 2 1 2; m a a Dec. 3, 1935. o. D. TAYLOR SLICING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MACHINE Orlin D. Taylor, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Theodore K. Walma, Iowa City, Iowa Application December 19, 1934, Serial No. '158,336 10 Claims. (01. 146-153) This invention relates to slicing machines and while it may find its greatest field for use in connection with bread, it is obvious that the invention is not restricted to such use.

While I am aware that it is not new to provide a slicing machine with groups of cooperating and reciprocating blades, it is new so far as I am aware to provide a slicing mechanism in which .the groups of blades thereof may be adjusted to vary the space between the blades without interrupting the operation of the machine and in which a portion of the supporting mechanism for the groups of blades plays an important part in the adjusting mechanism by which the space various parts thereof, such, for example,' as the cutting units, provides for convenient inspection and removal of these parts to the end that servic ing of the machine is expedited and simplified. ,A further aim is to provide a slicing machine of the character suggested which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

I Other objects and advantages will beapparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through I the machine, the view being taken on line ll of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, the view illustrating the means by which the supporting and guiding structure for the several cutting units is embodied in the spacing or adjusting mechanism for the individual blades,

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the cutting units, the view illustrating the adjustable mounting of the individual blades, v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating one of the supporting shafts for the cutting units, v

.Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the machine, partly in section, the view disclosing an indicator employed to visually indicate the taken on spacing of the blades.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose. of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 generally designates a support preferably in the nature of a rectangular frame or casing having openings in opposite vertical sides thereof for the passage of the material to be sliced, such, for example, as bread.

By reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the support In is provided adjacent opposite end portions thereof with guide rods l4 and IS, the guide rods l4 being rotatably mounted while the rods I6 may be rigidly mounted. More specifically, the rods I4 and I6 are suspended from the upper end or top of the casing Ill and have the lower portions thereof spaced substantial distances above the bottom of the casing and extended through horizontal brackets 20 carried by the casing H). The guide rods l4 on one hand and the guide rods l6 on the other are arranged in pairs, the rods of each pair being in spaced parallel relation and constituting mountings for a pair of cutting units 26 and 28.

The cutting units 26 and 28 are arranged vertically and are provided at the corner portions thereof with bearings 30 and 32 slidably embracing the rods l4 and "5, respectively, so that the several cutting units may be reciprocated.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the cutting units 26 and 28 are provided with upper and lower transverse blade supporting shafts 38 upon which blade carrying arms 40 are slidably mounted. The upper blade carrying arms are shown to have rigid connection at the outer terminals thereof with blades 42 through themedium of rivets 44 or other suitable fastening devices. The lower terminal portions of the blades 42 areshown to be freely extended through the lower blade supporting arms 40 and to have expansion springs 46 mounted thereon to tension. the blades. More particularly, the expansion springs 46 are preferably of the helical type and are confined between retaining pins 48 and the opposed surfaces of the arms 40. This provides a simple and reliable mounting for the several blades and yet provides for the quick and easy removal of the blades for renewal or other purposes.

As further illustrated in Figure 4, restraining elements or strips 60 extend across the arms 40 in engagement with the inner edges thereof and thus prevent the arms from rotating about the axes of the several shafts 38. Obviously, the strips 60 are, at the end portions thereof, rigidly secured to the several cutting units 26 and 28, and hence form a part thereof.

Coming now to the means by which the spacing of the blades may be varied to have the slices OI a uniform thickness, attention is invited to Figure 4 inwhich it is illustrated that the attaching portions of the arms 40 are provided with bosses 66 having bores threaded for the reception of screws or key elements 10. Suitable locking devices, possibly in the nature of nuts 12, may be associated with the screws I0 to secure the 'same firmly in place.

Figure 4 further discloses that the inner terminal portions of the elements 10 are tapered for reception in helical grooves I6 in the shafts 38.

It is now pointed out that the shafts 38 may be turned or rotated simultaneously to vary the spacing of the blades and yet maintain uniform spaces between all of the blades. To this end, that terminal portion of each shaft 38 adjacent to the associated shaft or rod I4 is machined with an annular series or set of teeth forming a gear 18 located within the adjacent bearing 30 and meshing with a. worm wheel on the adjacent rod I4.

In Figure 3 it is illustrated that each of the two guide rods I4 are grooved longitudinally or are formed with key-ways I9 slidably receiving suitable keys carried by the worm wheels 80. By this arrangement, turning or rocking of the guide rods I4 will produce a corresponding movement of the worm wheel 80, this being true regardless of the location of the several worms 80 along these guide rods.

By further reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the' upper terminal portions of the two guide rods I4 are provided with spur-gears 84 of the same diameter and number of teeth and in mesh with each other so that the turning of one gear will impart a similar motion to the other. Suitable means, such as a hand-operated crank 86, may be rigidly connected to one of the shafts or rods I4 to turn that shaft and consequently the other shaft I4 a desired or required extent.

Thus, turning of the handle 86 will result in corresponding turning of the shafts I4 and the worm wheels 80 and by reason of the connection of the worm wheels 80 with the gears I8, such gears I8 will be turned to bring about coextensive rotation of the shafts 38.

In Figure 5, the grooves I6 are shown to have progressively increasing leads or angles so that rotation of the shafts 38 will move the blades varying distances, one with respect to the other. This will be recognized as necessary to maintain uniform spacing between the blades.

In Figure 1 it is disclosed that the helical grooves 16 are pitched in opposite directions from the centers of the shafts 38 and progressively increase in lead from these points with the result that turning of the shafts 38 will bring about the required uniform spacing of all the blades, although, of course, as is necessary, there will be a greater adjustment required as the outermost blades are approached.

It is important to observe that the adjustment of the blades may be made during the actual operation of the machine and that the supporting mechanism, including the guide rods I4, constitutes a major part of the motion transmitting mechanism for the blade adjusting means.

For visually indicating, the adjustment imparted to the blades by the adjusting means, there is provided at a point on the casing I0 where it may be conveniently viewed, such as on the front thereof, a dial 90 over which a pointer 92 is moved. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the pointer 92 is rigidly secured to one end of a shaft 94 rotatably mounted in and projecting through the front wall of the casing and which shaft has secured thereon a worm gear 98 meshing with a worm I00 on one of the rotatable rods I4 so that rotation of the rod I4 will result in turning or rocking of the shaft 94 and consequently the pointer 92 for indicating on the dial the spacing of the blades.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is mounted on the lower end portion of the crank carrying rod I4 an expansion spring I III which is confined between the adjacent bracket 20 and a nut II5 so that this shaft or rod I4 is placed under tension to hold the same against unintentional or accidental rotation, whereby the blade adjusting means is maintained in a set position.

Obviously, any one of a number of different mechanisms may be employed to reciprocate the several cutting 'units. By way of example, I have disclosed an electric motor I20 connected by a belt I24 or other means to a balance wheel I26. ally projecting cranks I30 connected in any appropriate fashion to pitman rods I34 which in turn have connection with the sides of the cutting units with the result that operation of the motor I20 brings about reciprocation of the several cutting units.

In carrying out the invention, any suitable means such as platforms I40 may be associated with the casing for supporting the bread during and after the slicing operation and in this connection it is noted that the form of invention herewith shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such changes in arrangement and construction of the parts may be made as will remain 3 porting said shafts and being provided with bearings, guide rods slidably supporting said bearings, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and certain of said bearings, the gears associated with said bearings r being slidably keyed to the associated guide rod, and means to rotate said guide rod having the gears slidably keyed thereon and thus turn said shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades.

2. In a slicing machine, a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves progressively increasing in lead from the centers of the shafts, arms slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into said helical C grooves, blades connected to said arms, a member supporting said shaf':s and being provided with bearings, guide rod slidable through said bearings, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and certain of said bearings, the gears associated with said bearings being slidably keyed to the associated guide rod, and means to rotate said guide rod having the gears slidably keyed thereon and thus simultaneously and coextensively turn said rotatable shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades.

3. In a slicing machine, a support, a pair of cutting units, spaced pairs of guide rods carried The balance wheel is shown to have later- 2 by said support on which said cutting units are 75 for each cutting unit being rotatable, each of said cutting unitsincluding a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms slidable on said shafts, keys-carried by said arms and extending into said helical grooves, blades connected to said arms, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and said rotatable guide rods, the gears associated with said rotatable guide rods being slidably keyed thereon, and means to rotate said rotatable guide rods and thus turn said rotatable shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades.

4. In a slicing machine, a support, a pair of cutting units, spaced pairs of guide rods carried by said support on which said cutting units are mounted for reciprocation, one of the guide rods for each cutting unit being rotatable, each of said cutting units including a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into said helical grooves, blades connected to said arms, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and said rotatable guide rods, the gears associated with said rotatable guide rods being slidably keyed thereon, means to rotate said rotatable guide rods and thus turn said rotatable shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades, and means associated with said cutting units to hold said arms against rotation on said shafts.

'(blades connected to said arms, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and said rotatable guide rods, the gears associated with said rotatable guide rods being slidably keyed thereon, intermeshing gears carried by said rotatable guide rods, means to rotate one of said rotatable guide rods and thus turn said rotatable shaf s to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades, and means associated with one of said rotatable guide rods for holding ,said rotatable guide rods against unintentional turning, and means on said support and actuated by one of said rotatable guide rods for visually indicating the spacing of said blades. 6. In a slicing machine, a support, a pair of spaced guide rods carried by said support, a cutting unit mounted for reciprocation on said guide rods, means for reciprocating said cutting unit,

one of said guide rods being rotatable, said cut-- ting unit including a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into saidhelical grooves, blades connected to said arms, intermeshing gears assoting unit mounted for reciprocation on said guide ciated with said rotatable shafts and said rotatable guide rod, the gears associated with said rotatable guide rod being slidably keyed thereon, and means to rotate said rotatable guide rod and thus turn said rotatable shafts to simultaneously 5 move said arms'thereon to vary the spacing between said blades.

7. In a slicing machine, a support, a pair of spaced guide rods carried by said support, a cutrods, means for reciprocating said cutting unit, one of said guide rods being rotatable, said cutting unit including a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into said helical grooves, blades connected to said arms, intermeshing gears associated with said rotatable shafts and said rotatable guide rod, the gears associated with said rotatable guide rod being slidably keyed thereon, a crank carried by one end of said rotatable guide rod for rotating the same and thus turning said rotatable shafts to move said armsthereon to vary the spacing between said blades, and means for visually indicating the spacing of said blades. 25

8. In a slicing machine, a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms carried by and slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into said helical grooves, blades connected to said arms, a 30 reciprocatory frame supporting said shafts, guide rods for guiding the reciprocation of said frame, and means for simultaneously and coextensively rotating said shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades, said means 35 including as a part thereof said guide rods.

9. In a slicing machine, a pair of rotatable shafts having helical grooves of varying leads, arms carried by and slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending'into said heli- 40 cal grooves, blades connected to said arms, a reciprocatory frame supporting said shafts, rods for guiding said frame in its reciprocation, and means including part of said rodsfor simultaneously and ooextensively rotating said shafts to 45 move said arms thereon to vary the'spacing between said "blades, and means carried by said shaft supporting frame for holding said arms against rotation on said shafts.

10. In a slicing machine, a stationary frame, a reciprocatory frame, rods carried by the stationary frame on which the reciprocatory frame reciprocates and by which it is guided, a pair of spaced-parallel, rotatable shafts having helical grooves progressively increasing in lead from the 55 centers of the shafts, said shafts being rotatably mounted in said' reciprocatory frame, arms slidable on said shafts, keys carried by said arms and extending into said helical grooves, blades connected ton-said arms, means for simultaneously 60 and coext'ensively rotating said shafts to move said arms thereon to vary the spacing between said blades, said means including as an element thereof part of said guide rods, and means carried by said reciprocatory frame for holding said arms against rotation on said shafts.

ORLIN D. TAYLOR. 

